Many schools cover the cost of the DI program (outlined below). In other communities, each team member pitches in to cover the costs. Just what are those expenses, and what are they for?
Team Number and Tournament Registration
Registration for the Destination Imagination Challenge Experience consists of several separate steps: Obtaining a Team Number and program materials from Destination Imagination headquarters, adding one or more Team Managers, and registering for your team’s tournament with NH-DI.
To get started, you will need to purchase your Team Number and program materials by placing an order at Destination Imagination’s online store.
- Team Number: Every team will need to order a Team Number, which gives you access to all of the Challenge Program materials. The total price for the 2023-2024 season will be $315. This includes DI’s $165 charge for the Team Number and the $150 New Hampshire affiliate fee for local tournament registration and free training for Team Managers and team members.
- Team Manager Background Check: You may also need to order a background check for each Team Manager. Destination Imagination requires every Team Manager to undergo a background check, which you can order from DI’s online store for $25. If a Team Manager has already had a background check, DI may be able to accept the results of that check instead (see DI’s Background Checks page for the details).
Once your team numbers have been issued, they should appear on DI’s website immediately. You can then add the Team Manager(s), who will be able to download all of the DI Challenge Experience program materials once their background checks have been completed.
NH-DI usually opens up registration for our regional tournaments in late September or early October. There are no additional fees for local tournament registration, unless you register late or fail to provide the required volunteers (see Other Fees below for details).
Additional Expenses
During the season, most teams will need to purchase materials and supplies for the team’s solution and activities, though teams are encouraged to be both frugal and creative in their use of materials. Most teams also purchase or create team t-shirts.
If you were to add $200 for supplies, activities, and team t-shirts, the total cost would be $540. That’s just over $75 per team member for a team with seven students.
Other Fees
Although this won’t affect most teams, there are situations in which NH-DI must charge an additional fee.
Teams that register for their tournament after the December 15th deadline will need to pay a $25 late fee. Changes made after the deadline that could affect tournament scheduling may also trigger a late fee, such as a change in a team’s Challenge or its competition level.
Every NH team is asked to supply two additional volunteers to work at our tournaments:
- An adult volunteer called an Appraiser, who will help to evaluate team solutions at our tournaments. Appraisers can be anyone 18 years or older who is willing to attend Appraiser training in late January or early February, and then spend a full day at one of our regional tournaments on a Saturday in March.
- A two-hour volunteer to help us out at the team’s regional tournament. They might work at the NH-DI concessions table, help to prepare lunch for our Appraisers, or help staff the Information Table.
Some teams may find it difficult to find someone, but these volunteers are vital to making the program run, so this commitment is not to be taken lightly!
Summary of Fees
| Item | Team Number | Affiliate Fee | Total Per Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team number with program materials | $165 | $150 | $315 |
| Team Manager background Check | $25 | ||
| Additional fees: | |||
Late registration fee | $25 | ||
No Appraiser fee | $175 | ||
Registration for Team Manager training workshop (optional but highly recommended) | Free with tournament registration! | ||
Registration for DIve In training event for team members (optional but highly recommended) | Free with tournament registration! |